Local Stories

Philadelphia, PA – Rosenbluth International has imposed across-the-board employee pay reductions as a result of a severe slump in travel due to last week's terrorists attacks.

A spokesperson for the international travel management company in Philadelphia declined to say how large the pay cuts were or what other measures the company has taken. Rosenbluth has more than 5,000 employees in 24 countries including several offices in North Dakota.

Fargo, ND – It is impossible to see the devastation caused by the recent tragedies in New York and Washington without wanting to help the victims and their families. As many charities and nonprofit organizations are springing into action to collect food, water money, and other supplies to assist the victims. The generous people of North Dakota will want to do their part to help.

But keep in mind that, unfortunately, this time of need is also a time of prey for scam artists.

Bismarck, ND – The staff of the North Dakota Public Service Commission says Montana Dakota Utilities is making too much money in its electric division...and wants MDU to lower its rates by 11-percent.

The staff report says MDU has exceeded its agreed-to rate of return on electricity. MDU spokesman Dan Sharp says the utility made more money than expected - because it's been able to sell power on the spot market.

Bismarck, ND – Travel agents in North Dakota say they're optimistic that commercial air travel eventually will climb again.

Dickinson travel agency owner Craig Steve says some people will be leery of flying, but others will gain confidence from increased security measures. He says he's worried about too much government intervention in the airline industry.

Bismarck, ND – Most North Dakota Farmers Union members who were in Washington, D.C. last week to lobby for a new farm bill returned home via bus.

But Dale Enerson of Stanley got home another way.

"I got a plane ticket and got out of Baltimore Saturday afternoon and got back to Minot Saturday night."

Enerson was scheduled to return home Wednesday -- but the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington disrupted air service. He says most of the other Farmers Union members chartered a bus to get back to North Dakota.

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The White House is expected to announce as early as Friday that it is reviving a rule first proposed during the Reagan administration that bars groups who provide abortions, discuss the procedure or refer patients for abortions from receiving federal family planning funds, a Trump administration has confirmed.

There may be hope for the nearly extinct northern white rhino yet, thanks to the pregnancy of a closely related subspecies.

"Victoria," a southern white rhino in California, was impregnated through artificial insemination, researchers announced on Thursday.

"It's very exciting because this is our first pregnant rhino from artificial insemination here at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park," Barbara Durrant, director of reproductive sciences at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, told NPR.

President Trump offered assurances that North Korea would benefit from any deal it reaches with the U.S. regarding its nuclear program, amid uncertainty about whether negotiations between the two countries will actually take place.

North Korea has threatened to cancel talks between its leader Kim Jong Un and Trump scheduled for next month. Pyongyang said it viewed the joint military exercises held by the U.S. and South Korea as a provocation and that it would not give in to one-sided demands to give up its nuclear weapons.

Thursday, May 17 – As the Memorial Day holiday nears, we get a highway safety reminder about drinking and driving. North Dakota ranks second in the United States for fatal accidents involving drunk drivers. 6.62 deaths per 100,000 residents. That number comes from a study done by Value Penguin, a consumer research company. Joining us is the author of the study, Joe Resendiz. ~~~ Jennifer Walcott Goldstein is a lifelong educator, working as a teacher, teacher coach and administrator. In this...